In the period 2022-2023, the Sanarip Ayimdar project was successfully implemented, covering Osh, Jalal-Abad and Batken regions. The main goal of this project is to expand the economic opportunities and rights of these women by improving their information and digital, as well as leadership and communication skills. During the year, 180 women between the ages of 15 and 34 who were accepted into the project were trained in information and digital courses of their choice. As a result, in addition to courses on OT and digital technologies, 180 women from 3 regions were able to improve their skills by completing special trainings on leadership and communications. Today, 50% of the 180 women who participated in the project are employed. We share the stories of the participants of the Sanarip Ayimdar project.

***

Sitting before us is a very pleasant and determined young woman, Begimai Tabaldieva from Osh. Begimai, the very mom on maternity leave, who, thanks to her digital skills, already earns more than 40,000 soms today. 

"I am 31 years old. I was born and raised in the beautiful city of Osh. I have a wonderful family - I am a happy wife and mother of two girls. From my early childhood, I felt a strong inclination towards creativity and a love for creative processes. I always enjoyed organizing festive events for friends or creating unique gifts for loved ones, bringing my ideas to life. All of this brought me joy and satisfaction."

For 3 years, Begimai was on maternity leave, dedicating her time to her family and raising her children. However, she experienced stress and disappointment because she wanted to continue pursuing her professional career and develop in a creative direction. But there was no opportunity because it is very challenging to balance maternal responsibilities with a full-time job.

"Employers looked skeptically at my attempts to tell them about my talents and desire to find a job that would allow me to earn while still giving proper attention to my family and children. Many of them need people who are willing to work 24/7, without weekends, vacations, and so on. So sometimes it seemed to me that I wouldn't find anything suitable. But one fine day, I came across an announcement about the launch of a unique project called 'Sanarip Ayimdar,' which offered training for young mothers and girls in IT and digital professions. This opportunity became the perfect solution, allowing me to combine motherhood with professional and personal self-realization."

In society, it is not easy for every woman to find a way to combine a career and motherhood. Those who decide to return to their professional activities often face fear and uncertainty, believing that a long break from work has affected their skills and competencies, behavior, communication, and even appearance.

"Meeting many successful women in the IT and business fields who, like mothers, have achieved impressive results in their professional careers was inspiring. Their stories not only inspired me but also awakened a strong desire in me to continue to grow." 

After completing basic training in digital skills, Begimai decided to take a course in mobile photography because the ability to create photos and videos would help her start working on commercial projects on social networks, which means working on a flexible schedule and remotely.

"Thanks to mobile photography courses, I mastered various shooting techniques, editing, and photo and video processing on mobile devices. I acquired skills to create quality visual content that can capture the audience's attention. Boldly showcasing my work, I started publishing it on my personal social media page. My creativity did not go unnoticed, and to my delight, I received offers from commercial organizations to manage their social media pages. Thus, my efforts and the application of the knowledge and skills I gained bore fruit, opening up new opportunities for collaboration with leading companies in the city of Osh."

Today, Begimai manages the pages of several restaurants and shops, allowing her to earn no less than 40,000 soms. But she doesn't stop there and strives to scale her business and create new jobs for young women just like her.

"I never even dreamed that a mom on maternity leave could earn such money and at the same time dedicate time to her family and raising children. Every day, I receive numerous offers from companies, so many that sometimes I don't have enough time. Therefore, I am forming a team, looking for determined moms just like me who are eager for self-development. Together, we will create something amazing!"  

The #sanaripayimdar project is implemented by the NGO "Youth of Osh" within the framework of the UNDP project with the financial support of the Russian Federation